"Versatile Suzuki-powered single-cylinder thumper"

"Versatile Suzuki-powered single-cylinder thumper"

Overall Rating
3 out of 5

The CCM 644E Trail is a versatile Suzuki-powered single-cylinder thumper can turn from greenlaning motorcycle to supermoto motorcycle in just 15 minutes thanks to a simple swap of wheels. It’s loud, tough, cheap secondhand and great fun providing you steer clear of long straights and pillions.

Ride Quality & Brakes
3 out of 5

The CCM 644E is nicely balanced both on and off-road, though at higher speeds (over 80mph)on tarmac the motorcycle's tall wheels begin to feel vague in corners. The Brembo brakes are excellent and probably offer too much power on the dirt. The CCM 644E's WP suspension works well in either environment with plenty of adjustability available.

Engine
4 out of 5

The CCM 644E's oil/air cooled SOHC lump produces 50bhp – which might not sound like a lot, but when your motorcycle is geared low for off-road use it’s more than enough, especially when you finally leave the tarmac and turn onto the rough stuff. The CCM 644E doesn’t vibrate too much and is very reliable compared to rival motorcycles.

Build Quality & Reliability
2 out of 5

While the components on the CCM 644E are from some of the names in the business the quality control at CCM has historically been poor – welds snap, bolts sheer and exhaust header pipes crack. CCM 644E's made between 2003-2004 are particularly prone to problems.

Insurance, running costs & value
4 out of 5

After some well-reported financial problems in 2004, when the CCM factory essentially went bust, consumer confidence in the motorcycles plunged. Secondhand prices are at near giveaway levels, making them excellent value for money. Spares are widely available for the CCM 644E too, which somewhat offsets the iffy quality. Find a CCM 644E for sale.

Equipment
3 out of 5

On one hand you get top names like WP (suspension), Acerbis (plastics), Renthal (bars) and so on with a CCM 644E. On the other the dash is small and hard to read. That’s quirky hand-built British motorcycles for you…

Would not recommend. Think it was the worst vehicle I ever owned. very good looking tho.

Ride Quality & Brakes

3 out of 5

Don't even try pillion for more than half an hour. My spine was not in the best of health after i did it. Front breaks are awesome and rear were pretty good i guess.

Engine

2 out of 5

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Build Quality & Reliability

1 out of 5

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Value & Running Costs

2 out of 5

I am a fully qualified mechanic so did it myself but what i would say is spare parts are very very pricey and difficult to get from a limited number of places.

Equipment

2 out of 5

The engine in mine was the more favoured version however Suzuki decided its a good idea to not have any thing holding the front sprocket seal in place from factory and so mine fell out ON A BEND. I was only riding slow so I did not fall off but that was just luck. oil all over the road and my rear tire and rear breaks. This fault is the same on the DRZ i believe.